Venting-type containers



June 15, 1965 J. w. THOMSON 3,189,234

VENTING-TYPE CONTAINERS Filed July 18, 1963 E1 LEI-.1 a

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f V I /J INVENTOR.

JMLZZ? 5 UN 3,189,234 VEN TIN G=TYPE CONTAINERS John W. Thomson, West Covina, Calif, assignor to My invention relates to improvements in bottle-like containers, whether of the rigid or non-rigid type, though preferably-of the latter form. In the packaging of liquid detergents in non-rigid, or blownplastic bottles, it has been observed that such product absorbs oxygen. This oxygen is removed from the headspace (that unfilled part of the bottle just above the packaged product) with the result that a partial vacuum is produced, with resultant partial collapse of the bottle unless provision is made to admit outside air to replace the absorbedoxygen. Also, certain other products, such as sodium hypochlorite, liberate gases which create a substantial increase in the pressure within the container, resulting in unsightly ballooning or expansion'of the container. Such ballooning also may be rather non-uniform and its unsightliness thus magnified, where the container wall thickness happens not to be uniform. Finally also ambient temperature variations as encountered so often between times of the packaging and ultimate sale of the product may well cause either, or alternately both, ballooning and collapse of the container. In either event, it is most evident that the merchandise customer appeal will be well below the ideal standard desired.

An important object of my invention therefore, is the provision of simple, novel means for venting blown plastic containers, such as narrow-neck bottles, in such fashion that oxygen may either enter or leave the container as required and thereby maintain relatively uniform pressure Within the latter, all without leakage of liquid packaged in the bottle.

A further object of my invention is the provision of Venting means to attain the above indicated result which will not increase the cost of production of the containers.

It is also an object of my invention to provide upon the bottle neck sealing surface, one or more very fine radial or transverse ribs or ridges, which so distort contacting areas of the closure device as to create radial centing channels or grooves through which air may flow in either direction, but through which a liquid detergent or sodium hypochlorite, as examples, cannot normally pass.

Other objects will become apparent or specifically pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of my application:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing my invention embodied in the sealing surface of a plastic bottle, a lined closure cap being applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view on an enlarged scale, taken along the plane of line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with a fragment of the closure cap in position.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sealing surface showing a preferred distribution of the transverse ribs or ridges which create vent grooves.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the annular sealing surface embodying an inclined inner marginal area to accommodate a tapered valve on the closure cap and the vent creating rib extending well into the neck as would be required for stopper-type closures.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing my invention in its simplest form.

Preferably, though not necessarily my invention is intended for embodiment in a blown plastic container, such as those presently. formed of polyethylene or a similar elastomeric material. Such containers customarily are United States Patent 0 CPI 3,189,234 Patented June 15, 1965 manufactured by first injecting molding, under substantial pressure, the neck and sealingsurface portions and thereafter extruding a tube to create the container body.

.As illustrated in the accompanying drawings the bottle neck 10 is of cylindrical form, providing a bore 11 for filling and dispensing purposes. This bore is part of the so-called head-space, such being the unfilled, portion im mediately above both the top level, or surfaceof the packaged product or a pre-established fill-line.

The upper or rim-end of the necklli is provided with an annular radial pour-lip 12 which projects outwardly beyond the exterior wall 13 of the neck. This pour-lip has a fiat pouring and sealing surface 14 lying at an angle substantially normal to the axis of the neck. The inner margin of this annular sealing surface. 14 (FIGS. 1 and 4) merges with a second annular sealing surface 15 which declines toward the neck axis and is intended for sealing engagement with a so-called valve-closure, .viz one having a frusto-conical plug-like extension 16 or valve for entry into the neck bore, a short distance. Injection-molded,as an integral part of these sealing surfaces 14 and 15, are one or more upstanding ribs 17 or ridges extending radially, or transversely of the width of both said surfaces.

Each of these ribs or ridges 17 is of exceedingly small dimensions, being no greater than about .010" in depth and formed with sloping opposed side walls 18 joined at the apex by a small are 19. With this form of rib or ridge it is evident that with application of the closure cap 20, which is formed of a plastic material, or in any event has a cushion-like portion or liner 21 for sealing engagement with the neck, this portion 21 which may be a separate element, as shown, or merely an integral part of the plastic cap itself, will be locally deformed by each rib so as to produce along each side of its base a radial channel 23 or groove. Thus the desired vents are created. Obviously the angle of inclination of the side walls of the rib or ribs; the softness of the engaged portion of the closure or its liner and the specific characteristics viscosity-wise of the product, tall are factors entering into determination of the size of the vent groove or channel, required to either vent or admit air, without liquid leakage.

In FIG. 5 the bottle is formed with a conventional pour-lip finish or pour-spout 12a wherein the entire top sealing surface 14a is at a right angle to the neck axis and the vent creating rib 17a comprises two interconnected sections, one extending the full width of the surface 14a and the other 17b positioned along the interior of the neck. Such finish will accommodate either conventional screw-type or stopper-type closing devices.

As explained heretofore, FIG. 4 illustrates a neck and rim contour designed to accommodate either a closure cap embodying a frusto-conical valve element 16 or a conventional stopper (not shown).

It is believed apparent, in view of the foregoing, that venting involves passage of air along the minute grooves or channels 23 at either side of the rib base and along the thread Na of the closure 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 the threaded attaching skirt 20b is of such internal diameter as to provide a small space between the skirt and periphery 14a of the pour-lip 14 so as to permit free passage of air through the vent channels into or out of the container.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A blown plastic container having a neck providing a filling and discharge opening, said neck terminating in an annular rim end comprising a continuous pouring lip extending radially outward and having a flat annular sealing surface, there being an annular declined sealing surface between the interior of the neck and said fiat sealing surface and merging with the latter and at least one upstanding rib extending radially across both said sealing surfaces.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, there being an extension of said rib positioned along the interior wall of the neck.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, the rib being of the order of about .010" in height and having divergent side Walls leading to a relatively Wide base.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and a closure cap affixed to the container and having compressible internal sealing means locally deformed by the rib to create a vent groove alongside the base of the rib.

5. A container having a neck defining a filling and discharge opening, said neck terminating in an annular rimend embodying a radial annular pouring lip, said lip having a top sealing-surface lying in a plane normal to the container axis, the neck also having an annular in- Wardly declined sealing-surface interconnecting said top sealing-surface and the interior surface of the neck, and a rib of generally inverted V-shape in cross-section extending transversely across both said sealing-surfaces and Well into and along the interior Wall of the neck.

6. A container as defined in claim 5, and a closure element having sealing means engaging said sealing surfaces and the rib and locally deflected by the latter to create a vent along each side of the base of the rib.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner. 

1. A BLOWN PLASTIC CONTAINER HAVING A NECK PROVIDING A FILLING AND DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID NECK TERMINATING IN AN ANNULAR RIM END COMPRISING A CONTINUOUS POURING LIP EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARD AND HAVING A FLAT ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE, THERE BEING AN ANNULAR DECLINED SEALING SURFACE BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF THE NECK AND SAID FLAT SEALING SURFACE AND MERGING WITH THE LATTER AND AT LEAST ONE UPSTANDING RIB EXTENDING RADIALLY ACROSS BOTH SAID SEALING SURFACES. 